Tao Downtown

Tao Club in New York is an Asian bistro and nightclub. There are actually two Tao clubs, one uptown and one down town. Both are ran by the same people and to the same standard, so where you go just depends on your personal preference or where you happen to be at the time. You will find the red and gold tones of the building from the outside quite inviting, and you will feel drawn inside.

Inside the decor is sublime. Combining graffiti portraits of traditionally dressed East Asian women with club lighting and disco balls makes for an amazing environment. The warmth of tea lights and chandeliers and the roughness of the bricks in this New York nightclub creates an amazing blend of textures and colours that will leave you wowed. The decor in Tao Club New York is basically a work of art in and of itself.

The booths are fairly comfortable, upholstered in pleather and with plenty of room for individuals or groups to gather round or spread out, enjoying the environment as they please. It makes for perfect lounging to have a nice drink at the end of a long day, catch up with friends, or meet new people.

The dance floor is reasonably sized, and when it's packed you will feel an atmosphere really getting going. The music starts out quite soft earlier in the night, to cater to the restaurant clientele, and builds up as the night progresses, turning into more of a party atmosphere. If you feel that there is not enough energy when you first arrive, stop, have something to eat, and wait a few hours. It will build up.

The seating is mostly open benches, which encourages mingling and talking, but there are some options of smaller tables. The bar includes no seating and wraps around in a horseshoe shape, making it easy to order drinks.

The Tao also offers a restaurant selection of Asian fusion cuisine. You can either take a seat and have a meal, or order some tasting plates and have a light snack with your drinks, to energize you for a night or partying.

You will find the clientele is very mixed, with some young people and some older people, however everyone is friendly and you will most likely enjoy yourself and meet some new and interesting people, even if you feel out of place at first. The staff are incredibly attentive and you will feel well cared for at this venue.

Getting into the restaurant side is not too difficult earlier in the night, when there are plenty of tables, but as the night goes on it can get insanely crowded in there and you may not be able to get in. When it comes to the club itself, a reservation is the only way of getting in most nights. If you plan on coming for a meal and a drink you can probably just walk in, but if you want to come for the night life, you should instead consider reserving a table or bottle service well in advance.